Author

Award Date

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing (ND)

Department

Nursing

First Committee Member

Jessica Doolen

Second Committee Member

Victoria Yu

Third Committee Member

Timothy Bungum

Number of Pages

70

Abstract

Childhood obesity carries multiple significant and costly health associated risk factors. Obese children have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, as well as self-esteem issues. Childhood overweight and obesity are associated with $14.1 billion in healthcare utilization each year. New Mexico (NM) has experienced significant increase in overweight and obesity with associated chronic illnesses over the past 15 years. Addressing the public health crisis of childhood overweight and obesity requires an innovative and broad approach beyond primary care and health policy changes. Urgent care settings are highly accessed by pediatric patients. To address the epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity in NM, a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate provided Obesity Prevention and Management clinical guideline training to medical staff in an urgent care clinic in northern NM. The goal of this training was to increase the identification of and intervention for childhood overweight and obesity in urgent care. Using Lewin’s Change Theory and the Adult Learning Theory as a framework for the project, the project leader presented change as necessary and created motivation to learn by the clinical staff. Overall, there was an increased trend towards higher frequency of screening, diagnosing, and intervention for childhood overweight and obesity in the urgent care setting, as well as a trend towards increasing the frequency of self- reported behaviors. These findings suggest that an education intervention for medical staff may be successful in increasing the recognition and treatment of childhood obesity in an urgent care setting.